Uncle Tom’s Gabbin’

MADONNA AT ALOHA STADIUM? European sites are reporting that the Material Girl will be in Honolulu this New Year’s Eve ...

Congrats to super surfer Kelly Slater, currently ranked No. 1 on the Association of Surfing Professionals world ratings. If you don’t already know, Kelly is an eight-time ASP world champ, also recently claiming the 2008 Globe Pro Fiji in Tavarua, his fourth win of the season. Having an affinity for beautiful waves and women, you may remember some of his recent loves, including Pamela Anderson, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and Cameron Diaz ...

Looking forward to the return of The Laughing Samoans on an 18-city Crack Me Off Tour. With stops in Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii and California, this will surely be a fun-filled family night! See why laughter is an international language, Friday, Oct. 17, at Blaisdell Concert Hall ...

Love for Baby Sydni: The Mai Tai Bar ohana will hold a benefit concert featuring Ooklah The Moc in honor of 5-month-old baby girl Sydni, whose mom Jiye is assistant manager. She was recently diagnosed with histiocytosis, a rare blood disease that is treatable but will need as much aloha from our community as possible. Head down and show your support Wednesday, July 30, at 9 p.m. ...

Ric “Nature Boy” Flair

This week in 1973: A very young Ric “Nature Boy” Flair makes his Hawaii wrestling debut and is defeated by tough veteran Hard Boiled Haggerty. In other matches that night, Verne Gagne retains his world championship belt by defeating Superstar Billy Graham; Nick Bockwinkle and Ray Stevens successfully defend their world tag team championship title by beating Billy Robinson and Ken Patera; Sammy Steamboat and Neff Maiava become the new Hawaiian tag team champions by defeating reigning champs Ed Francis and Ripper Collins. In the opening match, Bill Francis (Ed’s son) wrestles to a draw against Bull Ramos. Ticket prices: $3, $4 and $5 ...

Fun Fact: 35 years later in 2008, Ric Flair makes his last appearance in Hawaii Feb. 13 at Blaisdell Arena before retiring at WrestleMania XXIV a couple of months later. Before entering the ring to defeat William Regal, Ric smiles when I remind him that he holds the all-time wrestling attendance record in Hawaii when he and Hulk Hogan appeared before 25,000 fans at Aloha Stadium in 1993 ...

Back to 1973, the No. 1 record in Hawaii is Yesterday Once More by The Carpenters ...